Curved Edge Protector

ABSTRACT

An edge protector which can be applied to complex curved edges without on-site adaptation has interconnected elements  2  aligned in a longitudinal direction. Each of the elements has first and second opposing side walls  3  and  4  joined by an end wall  5  and an intermediate wall  6  to form a box section  7,  and opposing faces of the side walls  3  and  4  which project beyond the box section are each provided with elastomeric gripping projections  8  and  9.  Adjacent pairs of elements are spaced apart to form a gap  11  and interconnected by an integral hinge connection between one of said side and end walls  3, 4  or  5.  A single edge protector may include adjacent pairs of elements interconnected by hinge connections between one of their side walls  3, 4  and adjacent pairs of elements interconnected by hinge connections between their end walls  5  allowing the edge protector to be manually manipulated in two mutually perpendicular planes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an edge protector which is principallyintended for protecting curved edges of sheets of glass during handlingand transportation. The edge protector can also be used to protect othereasily damaged curved edges, e.g. of metal sheets, furniture, pictures,marble, masonry, etc. Apart from protecting such edges from damage theedge protector can also prevent the edges from causing damage to otheritems within the immediate environment such as floors or items offurniture.

BACKGROUND

WO 2008 087370 A2 discloses an edge protector which is extruded fromthermoplastic material such as PVC. The extrusion includes a hollow boxsection and a pair of limbs which project from one side of the boxsection to extend on opposite sides of the edge to be protected.Opposing interior faces of the limbs are provided withlongitudinally-extending gripping tongues which are angled inwardlytowards the box section. The known edge protector is extremely effectivefor protecting straight edges. To a large extent this is due to the boxsection, which acts as an outer crush zone which is able to deform,collapse or even break to absorb the force of a heavy impact. On theother hand, the presence of the box section tends to make the extrusionvery rigid. Although the known edge protector can be adapted to edgeshaving a very slight curve by making slits and notches in the side limbsthe extrusion is still substantially inflexible, and the extrusioncannot easily be applied to complex curved edges without a considerableamount of time-consuming manual work on site.

GB 2 367 800 A discloses an edge protection strip which consists of alongitudinally extending channel formed between a base and opposed sidewalls. The side walls have sets of longitudinally arranged, laterallyextending teeth whereby the strip is capable of flexing or bending inthe spaced regions between the teeth, thus allowing curved or contourededge pieces to be protected. The teeth may have side edges whichconverge towards the root of the tooth, thus defining a spaced array ofsubstantially ‘V’ or ‘U’ shaped gaps between adjacent teeth. Whilst sucha strip is capable of inherently greater flexibility it provides onlypoor protection against impact damage since impacts are transmitteddirectly through the solid base with little or no attenuation.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of edgeprotector which can be applied to both straight and complex curved edgeswithout on-site adaptation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes an edge protector having a longitudinaldirection and comprising an element which, when viewed in saidlongitudinal direction, has first and second opposing side walls joinedby an end wall and an intermediate wall to form a box section, andopposing faces of said side walls which project beyond said box sectionare each provided with elastomeric gripping projections,

-   -   characterised in that the edge protector comprises a plurality        of such elements which are aligned in said longitudinal        direction, and each adjacent pair of elements are mutually        spaced apart to form a gap with each pair of elements        interconnected by a hinge connection between one of said walls.

It has been found that by incorporating such hinge connections it ispossible to fit the edge protector to straight or complex curved edgeswithout on-site adaptation. Moreover, it has also been found that sincethe integrity of the box section is maintained within each of theindividual elements there is no significant reduction in the amount ofimpact protection.

The term “complex curve” is used herein to encompass any curve havingmore than a single radius of curvature.

In a preferred form of the edge protector the hinge connection isintegrally formed with said elements. Such hinges may conveniently beformed by continuing said side or end wall between said elements,without significantly reducing the strength of the edge protector.

Adjacent pairs of elements may be interconnected by hinge connectionsbetween their side walls or hinge connections between their end walls. Aparticularly useful form of edge protector which can be manipulated intwo dimensions includes adjacent pairs of elements interconnected byhinge connections between one of their side walls and adjacent pairs ofelements interconnected by hinge connections between their end walls.

For optimum flexibility the length of the elements in the longitudinaldirection is preferably less than the maximum width of the side wallstransverse to said longitudinal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred totherein are included by way of non-limiting example in order toillustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse section through a curved edge protector inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the curved edge protector, showing the planeI-I of the sectional view shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through a second form of the curved edgeprotector;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the second form of curved edge protector,showing the plane III-III of the sectional view shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a third form of the curved edge protector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the curved edge protector 1 isformed of a polymer such as pvc and includes a number of substantiallyidentical elements 2, of equal length, which are aligned in alongitudinal direction of the edge protector. When viewed in thelongitudinal direction as in FIG. 1, each of the elements has first andsecond opposing planar side walls 3 and 4 which are joined by an endwall 5 and an intermediate wall 6 to form a hollow box section 7.Portions of the side walls 3 and 4 which project beyond the box section7 are provided with elastomeric longitudinally-extending grippingprojections 8 and 9 on their opposing internal faces. In addition, theintermediate wall 6 may be provided with one or morelongitudinally-extending elastomeric ribs 10 directed towards theprojections 8 and 9.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 each adjacent pair of elements 2 areinterconnected by one of the side walls 4, which extends across a gap 11between the two elements to form an interconnecting hinge A. Slightinherent resilience in each of the hinges A allows the edge protector tobe flexed in opposite directions in a plane which is perpendicular tothe side wall 4, as indicated by the double-headed arrow X. The edgeprotector can be manually manipulated into any complex curved snake-likeshape, enabling the edge protector to be easily applied to sheets whichhave a complex non-planar curvature, e.g. sheets which are formed intoan S-shape.

Once applied to the edge, the elastomeric projections 8 and 9 ensurethat each element maintains a tight grip on the sheet.

It would be possible for an edge protector to include hinge connectionsbetween the side walls 3 and hinge connections between the side walls 4(although not of course at the same position).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 each adjacent pair of elements 2 areinterconnected by means of the end wall 5, which extends across a gap 11between the two elements to form an interconnecting hinge B. In thisexample parts which correspond to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 have the samereference numerals. Slight inherent resilience in each of the hinges Ballows the edge protector to be flexed in opposite directions in theplane of each of the side walls 3 and 4, as indicated by thedouble-headed arrow Y. This edge protector can be manually manipulatedinto any complex curved snake-like shape which allows the edge protectorto be applied to planar sheets having curved edges, e.g. S-shaped edges.

Once applied to the edge, the elastomeric projections 8 and 9 ensurethat each element maintains a tight grip on the sheet.

It should be noted that the hinges B could be formed between theintermediate walls 6, although this would result in less flexibility fora given size of gap 11.

A single curved edge protector can include type A and type B hingesallowing the edge protector to be curved in two mutually perpendicularplanes. For example, the curved edge protector which is shown in FIG. 5has type A hinges which alternate with type B hinges.

The curved edge protectors described herein can, of course, be appliedto straight edges as well as complex curved edges. In some directionsthe maximum amount of curvature may be determined by the size of the gap11 between adjacent elements 2. Furthermore, for optimum flexibility thelength of the elements 2 in the longitudinal direction is preferably nogreater than the maximum width of the side walls 3 and 4 transverse tosaid longitudinal direction. In the illustrated embodiments the lengthof the elements 2 is about half the width of the side walls 3 and 4.

Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which arebelieved to be new and addresses specific problems which have beenidentified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may beused in any combination which is capable of providing a new and usefuladvance in the art.

1. An edge protector having a longitudinal direction and comprising anelement which, when viewed in said longitudinal direction, has first andsecond opposing side walls (3, 4) joined by an end wall (5) and anintermediate wall (6) to form a box section (7), and opposing faces ofsaid side walls (3, 4) which project beyond said box section are eachprovided with elastomeric gripping projections (8, 9), characterised inthat the edge protector comprises a plurality of such elements (2) whichare aligned in said longitudinal direction, and each adjacent pair ofelements (2) are mutually spaced apart to form a gap (11) with each pairof elements interconnected by a hinge connection (A, B) between one ofsaid walls (3-6).
 2. An edge protector according to claim 1 in whichsaid hinge connection (A, B) is integrally formed with said elements(2).
 3. An edge protector according to claim 2 in which said hingeconnection (A, B) is formed by a continuation of said wall (3-6) whichextends between said elements (2).
 4. An edge protector according toclaim 1 in which adjacent pairs of elements (2) are interconnected byhinge connections (A) between their side walls (3, 4).
 5. An edgeprotector according to claim 1 in which adjacent pairs of elements (2)are interconnected by hinge connections (B) between their end walls (5).6. An edge protector according to claim 1 which includes adjacent pairsof elements (2) interconnected by hinge connections (A) between one oftheir side walls (3, 4) and adjacent pairs of elements interconnected byhinge connections (B) between their end walls (5).
 7. An edge protectoraccording to claim 1 in which the length of the elements (2) in thelongitudinal direction is less than the maximum width of the side walls(3, 4) transverse to said longitudinal direction.